Czech soccer rocked by arrest of FA chief on corruption allegations

The head of the Czech Football Association, Miroslav Pelta, has been
questioned by police after he and a number of other people were arrested
over corruption allegations. Czech soccer is often in the news for the
wrong reasons – but is this its biggest scandal yet?

At the same time, officers swooped on Prague City Hall, the Ministry of
Education, Youth and Sports and Jablonec football club, which is owned by
Mr. Pelta.

Alongside the FA chief, they arrested a prominent Prague politician, the
head of the Czech Union of Sport and a deputy minister of education. They
also questioned Minister Kateřina Valachová.

According to the supreme state attorney, Lenka Bradáčová, the case
centres on the alleged abuse of ministry subsidies.

Media reports suggest the sums involved could be in the hundreds of
millions. The investigation has been linked to the renovation of a stadium
in Prague.

Scandal is nothing new in Czech football and fans have become used to the
sport also finding its way to the front pages. But how does this latest
situation compare to previous affairs? That’s a question I put to
journalist Michal Petrák of the newspaper Sport.

“We don’t know yet. Before, most of the scandals were connected with
bribery, or something to do with referees or such.

“This time it is a scandal that can reach into higher echelons.
Yesterday even the minister of education and sports was interrogated by the
police.

Miroslav Pelta – who has been in the post since 2011 – is due to stand
again for the chairmanship of the Czech FA next month. At present there are
no other candidates. So given this dramatic situation, what happens now?
Michal Petrák again:

“I think anything can happen. I think Pelta can be elected. I have no
ideals about Czech football. The delegates of the general [FA] meeting, or
the election, are used to scandals in football. They are thick-skinned, as
you say.

“So I think it is very possible they can elect Pelta, even though the
police are investigating his business.”

The weekly Respekt has reported that charges have been filed against
Miroslav Pelta and two others. However, this was unconfirmed at the time of
writing.

Meanwhile, Lidovky.cz said that another candidate may now stand against
Mr. Pelta.